Arne Thormodsen wrote:

A foot-high electric fence. Seems the commonest approach around here
(western Oregon) for racoons that get in fish ponds anyway. Doesn't need
much charge to discourage them, and you can just step over it.

We found with our garbage trailer (at our camp) we needed to put down
chicken wire on the groud as well and have that hooked up to the fence
because the raccoons would climb up the poles and avoid the wires. Smart
buggers they are.


--
charles

"Once ... in the wilds of Afghanistan, I lost my corkscrew, and we were
forced to live on nothing but food and water for days."
- W.C. Fields

"Rick Vanderwal" wrote:

But then you'd have to trap a dog or shoot the bugger to get the fur to
spread around the perimeter! And you're right back to square one!!!!!!

Most dogs are beginning to shed their summer coats about this time of year,
perhaps for this precise purpose!

A trip to the local animal shelter will probably yield enough "fur" to cover
a large vineyard.

"Charles H" wrote:

We found with our garbage trailer (at our camp) we needed to put down
chicken wire on the groud as well and have that hooked up to the fence
because the raccoons would climb up the poles and avoid the wires. Smart
buggers they are.

You could have just put the chicken wire around the poles, no?

"Dave Allyn" wrote in message
...
Are you talking about commercial electric fences? Do they put out high
voltages, but won't kill you, like a car's coil? I don't know much about
electricity, but I believe the 220 in my garage can kill. And you're
talking
800 volts?
Ken A.


It's not the volts that kill ya. it's the amps. This of this: a
static discharge (think touching a doorknob and getting a shock) is
usually measured in the 10's of KVolts.... asside from a but of
discomfort no problem. however, take even 15 volts, and a few amps
accross your heart, and say good bye.

I took a jolt of 115AC today. I was working on a magnetic stirrer.
Disassembled it without unplugging it. Soon as it hit me, I told myself I
KNEW that was gonna happen! Been a long time since I got a good shock.
Ken A. (doing the Homer thing today)

"Negodki" wrote in message
...
"John DeFiore" wrote:

Be careful. 220V AC can certainly kill as can 800V AC. They both have
enough potential to force a substantial current through your heart,
(under
the right circumstance) which is what Negodki correctly points out will
kill
you. What makes the electric fences safe but uncomfortable to touch is
the
FREQUENCY of the current. Something called the "skin effect" means that
higher frequency currents will tend to travel only on the outer part of
a
conductor, i.e. not through the heart. This makes the shock non-lethal
but
very unpleasant. The bottom line is don't try to rig up an electric
fence
yourself, use a commercially available unit.

Good point. I assumed that my suggestion implied purchasing a commercial
transformer (available at feed stores and some hardware stores), and not
trying to rig one up oneself, or trying to splice into the 880 feed lines
on
the electric poles. But if you know how to build an a/c transformer, you
probably know how to build a safe one.

I looked at electric fences at Tractor Supply last evening. A little
overwhelming, for a non-farmer. I think to use one for coons you'd have to
run two wires at 6 and 12 inches, roughly. They sell the wire by the mile. I
could have a grand time. Just dawned on me that if you could string it right
to the trunks, you'd save a bunch of time, money, and headaches. Possible?

"Joe Yudelson" wrote in message
...
Hi: I found that spreading dog fur liberally under the wire, especially
around the trunk helped.

Joe

Hmmm. That sounds pretty good. I think that's their MO - up the trunk.

"Ken Anderson" wrote:

I looked at electric fences at Tractor Supply last evening. A little
overwhelming, for a non-farmer. I think to use one for coons you'd have to
run two wires at 6 and 12 inches, roughly. They sell the wire by the mile.
I
could have a grand time. Just dawned on me that if you could string it
right
to the trunks, you'd save a bunch of time, money, and headaches. Possible?

Check your local feed store or hardware store. They sell wire in 100' and
500' reels. It's just 18 or 20-gauge bare aluminum wire. Doesn't have to say
"fence wire". Unless you need 5 miles of it to go around your vineyard? If
so, INVITE ME ---- WILL WORK FOR GRAPES!

Yes, if you don't have a metal fence, you will need to run two wires --- a
hot wire and a ground. And you will need to drive stakes in about a foot, so
they stay there. You can use pvc pipe for the stakes, and then you won't
have to purchase insulators. And you will need some sort of visibility, so
people don't trip on the wire. The white PVC pipe will serve the purpose (in
daylight).

Although running it along the vine trunks seems like it would work, it
won't! Every time a branch touches the hot wire, it will burn, which has
got to be bad for the grapes. And use up a lot of electricity. And you would
have to use insulators, so you may as well use pvc stakes.

Unless there are trees the critters can swing from, you need only run the
wire AROUND the vineyard, not around each vine.

Shouldn't take that long. Get the wife and kids to cut, notch, and drive the
stakes. When they're finished, you can string the wire.

"Negodki" wrote in message
...
"Ken Anderson" wrote:

I looked at electric fences at Tractor Supply last evening. A little
overwhelming, for a non-farmer. I think to use one for coons you'd have
to
run two wires at 6 and 12 inches, roughly. They sell the wire by the
mile.
I
could have a grand time. Just dawned on me that if you could string it
right
to the trunks, you'd save a bunch of time, money, and headaches.
Possible?

Check your local feed store or hardware store. They sell wire in 100' and
500' reels. It's just 18 or 20-gauge bare aluminum wire. Doesn't have to
say
"fence wire". Unless you need 5 miles of it to go around your vineyard? If
so, INVITE ME ---- WILL WORK FOR GRAPES!

Yes, if you don't have a metal fence, you will need to run two wires --- a
hot wire and a ground. And you will need to drive stakes in about a foot,
so
they stay there. You can use pvc pipe for the stakes, and then you won't
have to purchase insulators. And you will need some sort of visibility, so
people don't trip on the wire. The white PVC pipe will serve the purpose
(in
daylight).

Although running it along the vine trunks seems like it would work, it
won't! Every time a branch touches the hot wire, it will burn, which has
got to be bad for the grapes. And use up a lot of electricity. And you
would
have to use insulators, so you may as well use pvc stakes.

Unless there are trees the critters can swing from, you need only run the
wire AROUND the vineyard, not around each vine.

Shouldn't take that long. Get the wife and kids to cut, notch, and drive
the
stakes. When they're finished, you can string the wire.

PVC pipe is cheap, for sure. Could use the drill press and run wire straight
through the stuff.

"Ken Anderson" wrote:

PVC pipe is cheap, for sure. Could use the drill press and run wire
straight through the stuff.

I would suggest notching it (with the same hacksaw you use to cut it)
instead. Reason being, it's easier to thread and tension the wire. Cut
2'-2'6" pieces. Make a notch about 3/4-1" from the top, and another about
6-8" below (how big are these racoons?). Space them about 6-10' apart. Make
a hole in the ground with a piece of wood (a broomstick would do the job) or
a piece of metal pipe, and stick each post in. Then string the wire. Wrap it
around every 2nd or third post, so, if it breaks somewhere, you can repair
it without having to retension the entire string. Shouldn't take long. About
1 hour per 100' if you work alone. Twice that time if you have a "helper".


Are you sure you don't want to shoot them?

Coons are not cute. At one time, we had one in our yard and after talking
with local officials they warned me to not let my 75 lb dog out there - the
coon would win. Fast forward more than a few years, I've found out that our
dog was a deterrent for many critters. Now that he's gone, it has become a
free-for-all in my garden (bunnies, squirrels, and a family of coons). The
coons considered us to be the invaders. They are sneaky, and a pellet gun
doesn't seem to hurt them. I will have to adjust to protect my garden next
year. As to the electrical fence, be safe - even my husband who knows a lot
about rigging things up with electricity, has been surprised a few times.
His latest project was to create lights around our swimming pool and one
light in the pool. His comment was, "Don't worry I've figured it out so we
won't get a shock." After he finished it, was neat, but reminded me of a
landing zone for UFO's (circular).
;o) Darlene

"Ken Anderson" wrote in message
et...
"Joe Yudelson" wrote in message
...
Hi: I found that spreading dog fur liberally under the wire, especially
around the trunk helped.

Joe

Hmmm. That sounds pretty good. I think that's their MO - up the trunk.

I have had a fine solution to coons, opossums, skunks and deer, all a plague
for me for years. It is called a "Red Snapper". 110 volts - the output
voltage is way up there and the current safely down in the milliamps. Sold
at Orchard Hardware for $31, although I don't see it there now. A little
3x5x2 box. Ground one terminal and string the other with a 16-gage bare
copper wire around the area to be covered at a height of 10 inches for
critters and 30 inches for deer. I use a double line for both. At turns
and at the end, use a nylon fishing line to insulate it. Covers one mile.
It hits real hard if you are bare-foot. Never a doubt.....

Red Snapper
North Central Plastics, Inc.
R.R. 1, Box 1A
Ellendale, MN 56026

Cheers,
Bruce


"Ken Anderson" wrote in message
et...
Quite simply, if I don't do something about the raccoons that have
discovered my grapes, there will be no wine for me. It's a nightly
assault.
They spit the skins away - the ground under the vines is covered with
them.
The canopy is disheveled from their climbing up the trunks and foraging.
In
past posts, I see mention of box traps. Are there any other ways to deter
these critters? Can't bring myself to shoot, or trap them. Thanks.
Ken A.

You dont have to test them that way anymore....there are light meters
designed for testing fences...heck even touching it with a blade of grass
gives enough resistance to let you feel the pulses and not blow your socks
off!

lol

Sean

"Bruce" wrote in message
...

I have had a fine solution to coons, opossums, skunks and deer, all a
plague
for me for years. It is called a "Red Snapper".
It hits real hard if you are bare-foot. Never a doubt.....

Y'a, but REAL MEN just GRIP the damn thing! :-)

"Sean" wrote in message
news:zn7rb.3504$jy.2857@clgrps13...
You dont have to test them that way anymore....there are light meters
designed for testing fences...heck even touching it with a blade of grass
gives enough resistance to let you feel the pulses and not blow your socks
off!

lol

Sean

"Bruce" wrote in message
...

I have had a fine solution to coons, opossums, skunks and deer, all a
plague
for me for years. It is called a "Red Snapper".
It hits real hard if you are bare-foot. Never a doubt.....

I used to test them that way but i got tired of people having to use a 2 x 4
to pry me off

S

"Fred Williams" wrote in message
...
Y'a, but REAL MEN just GRIP the damn thing! :-)

I have a buddy who has told me the story about a guy who unwittingly peed on
an electric fence, back when they were kids. Hurts thinking about it. : O


"Fred Williams" wrote in message
...
Y'a, but REAL MEN just GRIP the damn thing! :-)

"Sean" wrote in message
news:zn7rb.3504$jy.2857@clgrps13...
You dont have to test them that way anymore....there are light meters
designed for testing fences...heck even touching it with a blade of
grass
gives enough resistance to let you feel the pulses and not blow your
socks
off!

lol

Sean

"Bruce" wrote in message
...

I have had a fine solution to coons, opossums, skunks and deer, all a
plague
for me for years. It is called a "Red Snapper".
It hits real hard if you are bare-foot. Never a doubt.....